Sharpe just wants a win

The British

& Irish Lions

Tour to New Zealand 2017

Sharpe just wants a win

Nathan Sharpe insists winning will be the only thing on his mind ahead of his final game in Perth.

The veteran second row is set to play in his adopted city for the last time on Saturday as the Wallabies look to get their Rugby Championship campaign back on track against the Springboks.

Sharpe, who has 107 caps to his name, retired from Super Rugby with the Western Force at the end of the season but answered an SOS call from Robbie Deans to continue representing his country until the end of the newly-expanded Tri Nations.

And having already received plenty of fireworks and fanfare in his last game for the Force in the Garden City, the modest 34-year-old is just desperate to celebrate victory as a team rather than soak up the adulation for his own personal achievements.

"It will be great to play well and win the game in what will be my last game in Perth," said Sharpe, who started both defeats to New Zealand last month.

"This weekend I'm probably a bit over farewells to be honest. I will just be happy with the win.

"The guys are all proud Australians and we want to make sure that the next time we take to the track we get a victory.

"There's plenty for us to do in terms of getting things right on the field, but minor adjustments will see a big difference."

The Wallabies and Boks are straying from convention in the build up to their latest clash, with star names from the two teams set to meet socially in mid-week.

The rivals will get together this Wednesday for what's being dubbed as 'The Big Braai' - a combination of a South African braai and an Aussie BBQ - with supporters handed the chance to chat to their heroes just three days before a must-win match for the Wallabies.

"Everybody knows about a South African braai and everyone knows about an Australian BBQ.

"As you get to know players and you play against them for a number of years, you obviously become mates off the field, particularly as you get older as well because you can distinguish between a friendship and an on-field rivalry."